Rhaenys saw the troops of the Jade Company board the ships nearby Volantis' docks, with the journey to Westeros taking place. All of them would be soon disembarking from the city that showed the world yet again that their promise to make a new one rang true, and they would soon be coming home. I might have grown up in Lys, then throughout the Free Cities, but I never felt at home there. Perhaps upon returning to where I was born, I would know what home is once again.
Rhaenys chose to wear armor based on the diagrams she saw from Yi-Ti. She wore leather armor with segmented steel components, which covered her shoulders, her lower body, and neck as well as leather that covered her forearms and shins. One thing that she learned from the Jade Order was to wear silk underneath her armor, with the one called Masaku telling her that silk can stop arrows if worn underneath armor. Doubtful on that, Rhaenys saw the one called Seonjoo test it. Shooting an arrow with an armor-piercing head, she was astounded at how effective it was, as the armor took away much of the arrow's energy and the silk stopped it completely.
"But be careful. It still hurts, so do try to avoid getting hit by arrows unless you want to get bruises," Seonjoo warned her.
Not that it matters if I get bruised, since Jon's lips can take care of that, she mused to herself.
After she coupled with Jon, Rhaenys was still nervous at how Daenerys would be, especially since it was her husband after all and the father of their coming child. But instead of being jealous, Daenerys hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek. "How was he?"
"Beyond my expectations," Rhaenys told her.
"He is great under the sheets, right?" Daenerys pinched her cheek affectionately.
"Now, I understand why you two were so loud," Rhaenys cracked at her.
"Don't get started. I might have my own ideas and start competing with you," Daenerys jested back, before she noticed something else. "What's wrong?"
Rhaenys was still coming to terms with what just happened. "I… I have been so worried about how I would survive day after day. Everyone wanted to use me, and to not have that feeling and to really feel safe… I never felt that before."
"Of course, Jon wants to use you. He wants to keep you from others trying to use you as well, and his claim is stronger."
Rhaenys, that time, shook her head at her aunt's jest. "It's not funny, Daenerys."
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "However, Jon wants to protect you, and he is sincere. You will never have to be afraid again. You are still guarded, I know, but you have not be so afraid anymore. We are here for you, and we will never leave you."
Rhaenys smiled at that and hugged her. "Thanks, aunt."
"But we should also make preparations for you to marry him."
"Marry him?" Rhaenys was surprised at how quickly she moved to that.
"But of course. I expect that you will be with child soon after what you had with Jon, so it's best that you two get married soon, to avoid the child being stained by bastardy."
"Any child that would be made after that will not be a bastard," Rhaenys was adamant.
"I know. But appearances, dear niece," Daenerys reminded her. "And besides, I would rather get things moving forward, since I too want to see you have a happy marriage like I am enjoying. And who better than Jon?"
Now that Rhaenys was thinking about, she started to see Jon in the same light that Daenerys was seeing him in. And once she brought up the topic of marriage, she could not think of anything else when it came to Jon.
"We should discuss this with Jon. He will say yes, but we got to agree on where it will be held."
Jon, Rhaenys, and Daenerys all agreed to have another ceremony in Westeros, after they won, to cement their status before the realm and then set their house back in place. The location would be decided later, as they needed to devote their attention on fighting the war that will bring House Targaryen back on the Iron Throne.
Rhaenys oversaw the plans that the Jade Company would take once they landed on Westeros. They would assume a three-pronged approach on the Seven Kingdoms. Benjen Stark and Prince Kaijin would lead a force to White Harbor, where they would reinforce Sansa Stark and her forces against the Boltons, which were still being held up around Winterfell. Sansa Stark had managed to forge an alliance with the wildlings north of the Wall, who numbered more than one hundred thousand including giants and other creatures, and they would work together in getting together the forces needed to defeat the Boltons and bring the might of the North down to the south, since they would be able to put more pressure on the Lannisters.
The second prong would originate from Dorne, with a force led by Robb Stark and accompanied by Hoon Ti, where they would organize Dornish banners to march through the Red Mountains and then move onto the Reach. And that was where matters would become uncertain, as the Reach would either be resisting the Targaryens, declaring neutrality, or siding with the Targaryens. But the first two were not going to happen, as they received a raven from Olenna Tyrell herself, who Rhaenys only knew as the Queen of Thorns. Olenna told them all,
House Tyrell will side with the Targaryens, as we have been loyal to the dragons since they raised up Harlan Tyrell from his humble origins as a steward. You can be assured that Highgarden will become a place from which the dragons can rise again.
The first to speak doubts into Olenna was Benjen Stark. "Why should we consider the offer from the Queen of Thorns herself? Was it not partially because of Mace Tyrell's cowardice that Rhaegar died at the Trident?"
Rhaenys had heard the story before, on how the bulk of the Reach's banners were held at Storm's End to conduct a siege by Mace Tyrell. It was clear that Mace was trying to balance out which side would win, hence why he chose to stay at Storm's End and not send any of his banners to help against Robert Baratheon's forces at the Trident.
"I have to agree with Uncle Benjen there," Robb said. "The Reach might have the largest number of bannermen in all the Seven Kingdoms, but they are led by a coward. What good is a pack if led by a sheep?"
"I don't think we should dismiss the Reach so easily," Tyrion tried to reason with them. "Mace Tyrell's conduct during Robert's Rebellion reeks of an oathbreaker, and I will not stop you if he must be punished. But the Reach is not led by one man. Everyone knows that the true power of House Tyrell is in the hands of Olenna Tyrell. And we should be thankful that the smallfolk, in their anger against Joffrey, killed the only incapable man in House Tyrell, Loras. Now, they are left with the two most able ones, Willas and Garlan. Both are capable, and they can be of great help when we do return to Westeros."
"So, we should hinge our southern prong on two men of House Tyrell that we don't know very well?" Rhaenys asked him.
"If we want to have the entirety of the Reach side with us, we will need the Tyrells. Now, as I said, I will not stop you if you intend to punish Mace Tyrell for his incompetence that was partially responsible for what happened at the Trident, but there are those at Highgarden that we can work with. Besides Lady Olenna, we have Willas, Garlan, and even Margaery, who is just as cunning as her grandmother."
"I must back up Lord Tyrion on that," Samwell Tarly made his voice heard. "Margaery Tyrell is able, and if she goes along with Olenna Tyrell, then the Reach will side with us."
"And not just because of their problems with House Hightower?" Daenerys revealed her knowledge of the conflicts between House Tyrell and House Hightower.
"If you want my honest opinion, Your Grace, conflicts between the Hightowers and Tyrells were bound to happen anytime soon," Samwell answered her. "I just did not expect them to be so brazen as to work with the Lannisters in supplanting the Tyrells as rulers of the Reach."
"That can certainly work in our favor, as we can use the Tyrells' fear of losing their position to make them easier to control," Jon concluded. "Which leaves us the third prong, at King's Landing itself."
The third prong was going to be the most difficult, as it involved attacking the most heavily defended part of Westeros. Everyone would expect an attack on King's Landing, which was why they were not going to attack the capital straight away.
"We will secure Dragonstone, Driftmark, and every other island guarding the entrance to the Blackwater Bay, and thereby cutting off the Bay to the outside world," Kaijin started to explain. "Once control of the Bay is secured, we will move closer to the city, and begin a minor bombardment. It will not be a serious endeavor, as the main efforts will be from Dorne and the North. But it will be enough to keep the enemy on their toes and make them believe that King's Landing is the objective. They will be right, but the timing will be wrong."
"That will tie down most of the Lannisters' banners around the capital, in which will allow us to secure both the North and Dorne. But we should also be cautious, as this is a great undertaking and thus requiring us to coordinate over many distances," Jon told them all.
"Which explains why each prong will be led by those who have experience in independent command," Kaijin added. "Benjen Stark will be accompanied by General Minoru Lim, and both will command the ground troops that move into White Harbor, whereas I will enforce sea control in the North's and Vale's waters and present the northerners with what they need to be further incentivized to fight for the dragons. Robb Stark will lead the attack from the south, with him and a few others to start us off before the Company of the Rose, the Wolf Pack, and a portion of the freedmen brigades arrive. And as for the main push on King's Landing, we need to concentrate just enough forces to make the Lannisters' think that the city is our main target."
The freedmen brigades were organized from the freedmen from both the Bay and Volantis. All were armed with firearms, spears, and ceramic casings, but they would only be used as second-line or rear-line troops since they did not experience battle before. In total, eight freedmen brigades were raised, while their training would continue as they moved closer to Westeros.
"But what about this island?" Minoru Lim directed their attention to the Arbor on the map. "From what I understand, we will have some serious problems if we don't deal with the Redwyne fleet there."
"If Olenna Tyrell does her part well, we can have the Redwyne fleet on our side. If not, we will just sink them with our cannons and dragons," Daenerys declared.
Everyone did not dissent on that.
"But there is also one more thing to be concerned about," Daario was the last to speak. "What about the stormlands? As far as anyone is concerned, Storm's End is without a lord, and the stormlords are angry at the Lannisters for the damage put on them as well as Stannis' head being displayed. It's closer to King's Landing, and we can gain another army from the stormlands."
"On that, you are correct, Captain Daario, which is why we have made the decision to legitimize Gendry here," Jon squeezed Gendry's shoulder. "As Gendry Baratheon, rightful Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. He has served us well and with him being of Baratheon blood, it is only proper that he receive that."
"And I shall lead a force into the stormlands, to muster whatever support I can," Gendry told them all. "It is time that I put my experience as a leader into action."
Rhaenys knew that Gendry would be given three thousand men to move onto the stormlands, mostly marines supported by a freedman brigade. But they were already in the process of reaching out to stormlander houses that wanted to keep fighting for a Baratheon, being encouraged by House Swann and House Caron, two of the marcher lord houses who already declared support for Gendry.
"And you shall succeed, dear," Arya encouraged him, as she and the Jade Order companions, including Gong-Er, would accompany him as well.
Jon was tempted to give a speech to the troops, but Daenerys told him, "You already proved yourself in the field, my love. The don't need another speech from you, just more leadership."
She chose to wear a dress lined with steel and wore Dark Sister at her hip, to contrast herself from Jon and Rhaenys in terms of how they wanted to be presented in battle. And Rhaenys could see that she was showing much confidence, showing that she didn't need armor to be fierce. Like she always should.
Jon agreed. "Very well. Let's ride, then."
Rhaenys felt as if she was in a dream. She never expected to return home in such a fashion, with Jon and Daenerys at her side, with a powerful force behind them, and on top of a dragon named after her father. Looking towards the west, the calm of the sea hiding other troubles that might lie ahead, Rhaenys could feel uncertainty. Her life might have been becoming brighter by the moment, but she felt as if there were still many things that could go wrong.
Don't worry, Rhaenys. We're here for you. I'm here, Rhaegel told her after sensing her thoughts. She felt more assured, as it was the dragon named after her father.
Rhaenys grinned before she inhaled, grabbed his spines, and joined Jon and Daenerys in the air.
With the ships leaving Volantis harbor, with the crowds watching them sail, Rhaenys got on Rhaegel and flew with Drogon, Viserion, and Meleys as they made one last circle over Volantis before they roared once more and then flew above the fleet. And with Lady Jaenyra keeping things in order in Volantis, we should have no problems from the Free Cities and those who want to fight us for dismantling slavery, Rhaenys thought to herself as she felt the cool air blow against her from dragonback and smiling at Jon and Daenerys as they were about to arrive home at last. I'm coming home. I'm coming home, she repeated to herself.
Margaery was awakened from her bed by one of the servants at Highgarden. Annoyed that she was rudely awakened, and it was still very dark, the servant told her, "Lady Olenna is telling me to tell you to come to the solar. It is very urgent."
Margaery knew better than to disobey her grandmother, knowing that she would not have awoken her from her sleep unless there was a good reason for it. Putting her nightrobes on, she followed the servant through the darkened hallways of Highgarden, with the rest of the household and especially her brother Willas and her father still asleep while Garlan was still doing in Dorne, doing that piece of business that would determine the future of House Tyrell. Hope he is all right there, especially with Arianne in clear control of Sunspear and the Sand Snakes likely to be more than he could handle, if what I saw of them still applies, Margaery remembered the Sand Snakes, who she respected for being fierce and not allowing themselves to be limited by the obstacles facing women and bastards.
Eventually, she found herself in the solar, where Olenna was waiting for her, only one candle lit. "You may go," she told the servant, who quickly obeyed. "Dear Margaery, I am sorry for waking you up like this, but this cannot wait in the morning."
"What, grandmother?" Margaery asked her.
"I have received a raven from the Starfall, from House Dayne. They told me that House Martell will side with the Targaryens when they arrive in full force, but already, they have sent men and others ahead of the main force to prepare Westeros for the dragons' return," Olenna told her. "I have also received word from my own people in Sunspear. Arianne Martell is going to raise the Dornish banners very soon, and part of the Targaryen's forces will be in Dorne before consolidating and then moving north of the Red Mountains."
Margaery could not believe it. "By the Seven… it is finally happening. They are coming back."
"And not just them. House Stark has been shown great mercy from above, for many of their members, especially the children of the late Eddard Stark, had survived the tribulations placed upon them. The eldest among them is Robb Stark, who had escaped from the Red Wedding and by some miracle managed to make his way to Essos, where he joined the forces of the Targaryens led by his cousin Daeron."
"Robb Stark… I can't believe it. He survived, and now he's coming home?" Margaery let out.
"But as I said, before the Targaryens' forces conduct a full-scale landing on Westeros, they will scout out the land and prepare the Seven Kingdoms by getting houses to rise for them as well as gather information. Robb Stark is one of them, as he will lead a party of men from Dorne and organize everything in the south."
"Not in the north, where support for the Starks will be greatest?" Margaery asked her.
"No. As far as everyone is concerned, Sansa Stark is running things there, and the northerners will not be keen to welcome back someone who lost his crown," Olenna explained. "As of now, Robb Stark's only recourse will be to ensure that everything is ready in the south, since that is the only way that he could contribute. He might not be a king, but he is a good leader, since he won battles and thus showed capability."
"How do you know all this, grandmother?" Margaery always saw her grandmother's mind be sharp and seeing multiple steps ahead, but she doubted that she would be able to see everything.
"Well, I received a letter from the Daynes, specifically from the hand of Lady Ashara Dayne." Olenna held it up.
Margaery opened the letter, and read the following contents:
To Lady Olenna of House Tyrell,
I speak on behalf of House Dayne in the following matter. I have been told by Princess Arianne Martell, who has taken control of all matters in Sunspear in place of her father and brother, to prepare the men of House Dayne for battle against the Lannisters. Dorne has had enough of the Lannisters' blundering that have brought the Seven Kingdoms to the edge of ruin, and the Martells will no longer tolerate those in control of the realm, whose family was instrumental in the Sack of King's Landing and the murder of Elia Martell and Aegon Targaryen, the true one.
House Targaryen, led by Daeron Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen, and Rhaenys daughter of Rhaegar, will return in force to Westeros, and those who will side with them when they first arrive have been assured of their survival. Dorne will be the first kingdom to rise up against the Lannisters, and I have been told that the North led by Sansa Stark will also support the Targaryens.
The purpose of this letter is to invite you to a meeting at Starfall, where one of the Targaryens' most able commanders, who Westeros knows as Robb Stark, son of Eddard Stark, will be coming. Two kingdoms will support the Targaryens as they fight to take back the Iron Throne, and they would like the Reach to be the third kingdom to do so. With the combined might of Dorne, the Reach, and the North, the Targaryens' will have more than a chance at winning against the Lannisters.
If you accept the offer to meet, Robb Stark is expected in two weeks. Please do not delay if you chose to accept.
Signed,
Ashara Dayne, caretaker of Starfall.
Margaery exhaled before she gave the letter back to Olenna. "Two weeks… how long ago did you receive this letter, grandmother?"
"Just today. And I had to think about our options very carefully, before I realized that we have no other recourse. Tywin Lannister is making a bond with the Hightowers, and they wish to supplant us in the Reach. If we want to remain where we are, we cannot hesitate."
"Then, what are we waiting for?" Margaery also agreed with her grandmother.
Margaery and Olenna had to travel discreetly, leaving Willas in charge of Highgarden as their grandmother didn't trust their father to run things. And knowing that the Hightowers would have agents watching them, they travelled in disguise. They were alert when they entered the Red Mountains, as the mountains were particularly lawless especially during times of war, but they fortunately did not have to travel in anxiety because they were given an escort by House Dayne.
Taking a boat to Starfall, they were welcomed by Ashara's daughter Lady Dyanna and her aunt Lady Allyria.
Her father was unknown, but Lady Dyanna Dayne was the heir to Starfall after Ashara. Like her mother, she was a very beautiful woman, inheriting her mother's long dark hair while her grey eyes, a trait not common in Dorne, was a mystery. This contrasted to both Ashara and Allyria, both of whom retained the beauty that made them so renowned during the years before Robert's Rebellion, with their flowing black hair and eyes almost as purple as the Targaryens. Everyone believed that Ashara Dayne, who Margaery heard was romantically involved with the late Eddard Stark before the Rebellion began, was suspected to be the mother of Jon Snow, which turned out to be his cover identity. And Margaery had to admit that Eddard Stark, despite being honorable, did have some cunning in that no one would have been creative in hiding the last male Targaryen heir as his bastard son and doing that well for the last twenty years. By the gods, even honorable men can be crafty like the Stark direwolves, Margaery thought.
Lady Dyanna bowed her head at them, along with Allyria. "My ladies, welcome to Starfall. I am—"
"Dyanna, heir of Starfall. I know who you are," Olenna was impatient like always. "Let's skip the pleasantries, because the Hightowers will know sooner or later that we were here."
"Of course," Allyria was quick to oblige her. "This way, then."
"Is Robb Stark here?" Margaery asked.
"Yes. Inside the castle."
Led inside the castle of House Dayne, they found Ashara there in the main hall along with Robb Stark, who was dressed in thick furs and had a great grey wolf at his side.
Margaery had heard talk of how dashing Robb Stark was, with his thick auburn hair and blue eyes that spoke of his Tully descent, while his innocence and his youth made him very desirable. However, looking into his eyes, Margaery could see that the years had not been kind to him, as there was a certain darkness in his eyes that only men who had seen death and had suffered betrayal possessed. His mother died along with his friends at the Red Wedding… who wouldn't get morbid after that? she thought. On the other hand, the ruggedness that Robb Stark had in his face was very refreshing to Margaery, as she had grown tired of all the refined looks that the other lordlings in the south emphasized.
And putting things together, she could only guess that the wolf at Robb's side was Grey Wind, the direwolf of Robb Stark. Fearsome creature, she commented on his size.
"Lady Olenna, I hope that our island is to your liking," Ashara said to her. "This is Robb Stark, currently in charge of a portion of the Targaryens' forces. He will be representing House Targaryen now."
"Should I call you King Robb, given the northerners giving you a crown?" Olenna was blunt.
Robb was not biting. "No. That is in the past now, and I thought we were here to discuss the future."
Olenna was impressed at Robb not taking the bait, which also got Margaery interested. "Very well. What is this future that you speak of?"
"All right. Let me start by expressing some grievances," Robb began. "House Tyrell might have remained loyal to House Targaryen, but in the words of Rhaenys Targaryen, she found the conduct of Lord Mace Tyrell as cowardly, as they spent much time besieging Storm's End while their men could have been used to help Rhaegar Targaryen. Now, I admit that I would not have wanted that to happen since my own father would have been at risk, but the Tyrells not trying harder to fight for House Targaryen, whose family rose you up from simple stewards, casts doubt on whether you will fight for them again. Because the last time you did so, the Targaryens were scattered in the wind. So in essence, your house is partially responsible for the tribulations that my cousin Daeron Targaryen endured."
Margaery could not believe how biting his words were, while Olenna was unmoved. "Well… I am not one to be sentimental, but I do acknowledge your reasoning. My son was and is still cowardly, which places the burden of ruling the Reach on my shoulders. And for the future, I will ensure that the Tyrells become more active in our loyalty to House Targaryen."
"It's not me that you must persuade, Lady Olenna. You must persuade especially Princess Rhaenys, with her father's death being partially on your shoulders," Robb reminded her.
"Of course," Margaery decided to interject. "I was not born at the time, and I will not say that I understand what Princess Rhaenys feels, but no one can blame her. But those were different times, and the times that we live in now require us to support House Targaryen."
"Because of the Hightowers?" Robb revealed his knowledge.
"And because… the Lannisters are responsible for my brother Loras' death," Margaery took a moment to say that, since his death was still fresh on her mind.
Robb nodded in understanding. "I see… I'm sorry, Lady Margaery."
"Now that we got that out of the way," Olenna kept it going forward. "Can we move forward in planning out the specifics of our support to House Targaryen?"
"Yes, on the morrow. I have other things to discuss with Lady Ashara, things that cannot wait. I hope you understand."
"Of course," Olenna accepted.
However, Margaery could not just leave the main hall for the Daynes' hospitality. Taking a chance, she went forward towards Grey Wind, curious at the direwolf. Slowly and cautiously, she reached towards him with her hand. To her surprise, Grey Wind accepted her hand and allowed her to scratch his neck. Margaery chuckled at how he liked it, with Grey Wind panting like any dog.
"He likes you," Robb told her. "Not many will be accepted by Grey Wind."
"I can tell." Margaery scratched his ears, earning her a smile from the direwolf. "You must be happy, to have such a companion at your side."
"You have no idea," Robb stated.
"Perhaps, later… I can see him again, and you can share more stories about Grey Wind?"
Robb cracked a grin at her, which made her skin bump. "I would be glad to."
"Come on, Margaery. Let's leave Robb Stark to discuss whatever he needs to discuss with Lady Ashara. The sooner he finishes, the sooner he can speak with us," Olenna urged her along before they both shared one more glance at each other. "Be careful, Margaery."
"What?" She was confused.
"Come on. I know that look anywhere. You like him."
"I would not say that, grandmother."
"But you find him dashing, don't you?" Margaery couldn't say anything to that. "A marriage to Robb Stark will be helpful in ensuring our safety, but beware. A man who experienced dark things will not easily open his heart. If you try to know too much, he will close himself to you. So, be careful."
"But not too careful, or he'll think me a prude," Margaery jested.
Olenna laughed. "You, a prude? That'll be the day."
Margaery chuckled with her, while her thoughts began to center around Robb Stark. He's straightforward, and he is not afraid to say what he has to say. How fascinating, she thought.
Sansa prepared herself for the outburst that came after she announced that she would be making a bond with the wildlings, which caused many, especially Lord Manderly and Lord Hornwood, as well as the Valemen who came with her, to express outrage at her coming up with such a scheme.
"You spit on the graves of your ancestors!" one shouted at her.
"You traitor!"
"You would sell out your lands and your homes for wildling rapists and murders!"
"You made a pact with barbarians? Outrageous!"
Even Littlefinger hid how he felt towards Sansa's ideas towards making a pact with wildlings. Theon Greyjoy and Mance Rayder were also present at her invitation, and they had to make extra reassurances that they were not threats, so they had to hold back many of their troops back some distance from White Harbor, but close enough in case they needed rescuing. More insults came Theon's way.
"You ungrateful shit!"
"You turncoat!"
"Always knew that you were going to choose your family over the ones who raised you!"
Theon, to his credit, kept his composure and put his good eye down to show his shame.
"Enough, my lords!" Harrold shouted while pounding his fist, surprising the Valemen even though they knew Sansa was to be Harrold's consort. "Let us hear what she has to say."
Sansa nodded her thanks.
"There is a reason why I had decided to form an alliance with the wildlings," Sansa told them all. "We will never take Winterfell, not like this. And with winter coming ever closer, it will be impossible. But I realized that we and the wildlings are united in common cause against the Boltons, as the both of us know that with Ramsay Bolton in Winterfell, the North will be divided. And with over one hundred thousand wildlings working with us, our chances of winning have just increased," Sansa tried to reason with them.
"But working with these barbarians?" Lord Hornwood was vocal in his skepticism. "They will rob us of our lands, steal our livestock, and take our women."
"Enough!" Lord Jeor Mormont barked. Unlike Theon and Mance, everyone in the hall knew to listen to the former Lord of Bear Island and technically the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. "All you people, so stuck in your ways, while we are facing a great threat from the north of the Wall. You might not believe it, but the White Walkers and the king of ice will come. And if we bicker like this, we will join the ranks of the dead stirring."
"Lord Jeor, we know that you are honorable and cannot lie, but—" Littlefinger tried to be polite, even though he was trying to regain control of the discussion.
"Did I say that you can interrupt me, vermin?" Sansa had to hide how amused she was, as someone finally said to Littlefinger what he was. Littlefinger had no choice but to accept, lest he make himself look bad. "I don't give a shit about the wildlings now. If the Bolton usurpers control Winterfell any longer, the North is divided, and a divided North will never stand a chance against the forces of the dead. We either stand together, or we will be corpses."
"My lord, you must see this from our perspective—" Lord Wyman tried to say.
"And look where that got us!" Jeor shot back. "I take it that you also that Lady Sansa has decided to cooperate with the dragons."
"Something that we are still very against, given what the Mad King has done," Lady Flint of Widow's Watch expressed.
"Even though Daeron Targaryen is the son of Lyanna Stark, the one we all fought for?"
The northerners were still struggling to accept that fact, even though they could not deny that it made too much sense given what they knew of Lyanna and of Eddard Stark protecting his nephew.
"Daeron is one of us, a northerner. You really think that he will abandon us? We followed the Starks before, and they are the only ones who give a shit about us. Daeron is a direwolf as well as a dragon, so we should all support him."
"Even though he might have anger for being treated like a bastard?" Littlefinger pointed out.
"I met him, vermin," Jeor bit back. "Have you?"
Littlefinger was choosing his words carefully, but Sansa could recognize that his mind was turning. What are you thinking of doing?
"My lords!" a messenger ran inside. "Ships, off in the harbor!"
Sansa ran to the docks as she saw the new ships arrive at the docks of White Harbor, with the sigil of the three-headed dragon of House Targaryen against a jade background. She, along with the others who were coming to witness the arrival, could not believe what they were seeing. They were more than fifty shapes in the shape of the Yi-Tish junk, if Sansa remembered correctly from her studies in the early years, and she never imagined that she would be seeing them up close and with her own eyes. What is going on here?
A rowboat came from the Yi-Tish junks, which also had the banner of House Stark, surprising Sansa and many others. Who is coming? Arya? Robb? Uncle Benjen?
Soon enough, Sansa recognized her uncle Benjen, along with two Yi-Tish looking men. She felt herself gasping in delight, seeing that at least one part of the rumors be true. Hearing that my uncle was alive and seeing it with my own eyes… by the old gods, even they can't know what I am feeling.
Sansa was frozen when the rowboat finally arrived at the docks, with Benjen stepping out of the boat along with the two Yi-Tish men in armor. Both stood there, almost disbelieving that they were looking upon each other. Sansa knew that it had been years since they looked upon each other, with Robert Baratheon's arrival to Winterfell being the last time that they saw each other. Sansa regretted that she did not say anything to her uncle, as what she experienced at the hands of those monsters in King's Landing made her realized that she had everything, and she chose to pursue a dream that was in fact hiding behind a mirage. I was so ungrateful. I chose to follow frivolous dreams when I had my family all along.
And with Benjen right in front of her, she realized that the old gods gave her another chance to atone for her mistakes, as well as learn valuable lessons from her uncle who was alive when the Rebellion and everything else that changed their lives took place. Not again. I will not waste this chance again, she promised to herself.
Sansa took the first step, with Benjen following suit, before they hugged each other. As soon as she felt that he was real, she started to cry, knowing that she was not imagining things. With her uncle alive and confirmed to not be a figment of her imagination, she felt as if the worries in the world were being extinguished from her body and mind. And to feel it all unload from her, made her feel something she never felt in a long time.
"Sansa. It's all right. I'm here."
"Uncle," Sansa kissed his cheek. "You have no idea—"
"I know. I feel the same way."
Sansa wanted to spend the rest of the day in his arms, as she wanted to spend the time with her family that she failed to spend well, but she had other duties to attend to and she straightened herself while wiping the tears from her face. "I'm glad you are here, uncle."
"Me too."
Sansa eyed the two Yi-Tish men. "Who are they?"
"This is Minoru Lim, my top lieutenant."
"My lady." The Yi-Tish officer addressed her, astounding Sansa as his common tongue lacked an accent.
"You speak our tongue well."
"I learned from a good teacher."
Sansa smiled before her eyes turned to the other. "And him?"
"That is Prince Kaijin, son of the late emperor of Yi-Ti."
Sansa's eyes widened. "A… prince?"
"Yes. He will be accompanying us as we march in support of you against the Boltons. On those boats is a force that will help you greatly as we take back Winterfell."
Sansa nodded while Kaijin bowed his head before her. "My lady, perhaps we should move to the hall. And discuss things further? We have no time to waste."
Sansa was struck at his humble speech and his polite manners, something that contrasted greatly with Joffrey. "Of course."
"And dare I say, I'm impressed with your leadership, if the rumors are true. I look forward to seeing you in action," Kaijin added.
Sansa smiled at him. "Thank you… Prince Kaijin."
But as she and the others moved up back to the hall of the Manderlys, with Jeor and Benjen shaking and grasping each other's hand after so long, she saw Harrold looking at her. She knew to recognize wariness, and she could only guess why he would have that. We are officially betrothed, but for him to be wary just because I smiled at the Prince… better be careful.
A/N: Finally, the dragons are coming to Westeros.
Margaery and the Tyrells are rightfully afraid, since it is partially their fault that Rhaegar died at the Trident. As for Margaery and Robb, now about to start
Sansa is finally reunited with Benjen, but she is also dealing with a potential problem
